Box or the like with collapsible partitions



Jan. 24, 1939. A G, ANDRSQN 2,145,106

BOX OR THE LIKE WITH COLLAPSILE PARTITIONS Filed March 15, 1957 l 2 sheets-sheet 1 Jan. 24, 1939. A. G. ANDERSON Box OR THE LIKE WITH COLLAPSIBLE PARTITIONS 2 Sheets-Sheet v 2 Filed March 13 1937 Patented Jan. 24, 1939 f PATENTV OFFICE BOX R, THE LIKE WITH COLLAPSIBLEI PARTITIONS Axel G. Anderson, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application March 13,

2 Claims.

My invention relates to partition-equipped boxlike structures such as drawers and the like and, generally stated, consists of the novel devices, combinations of devices, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

The invention is directed particularly to an improvement in the partition structures of these boxes or box-like containers, whereby the partitions are capable of being collapsed, disassembled and different arrangements of partitions incorporated in the same box or shell. While the elements of the device may be made of various diierent metals they will advisably be made of thin sheet steel. The partitions are flat plates capable of being applied in different arrangements. In most instances there will be at least one longitudinal partition plate and one or more intersecting transverse partition plates and in such instances the longitudinal and transverse plates, at intersecting points, are formed with intersecting slots and the intersecting joints are reinforced and the intersecting plates are held in rectangular arrangement by coupling heads of novel construction applied in a novel manner, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings: y

Fig. 1 is a plan view, with some parts broken away, showing a rectangular box in the form of a drawer provided with longitudinal and transverse partitions;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary `vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective, with parts broken away, showing a longitudinal partition, a transverse partition, and a coupling head, the said parts being segregated and being drawn vertically apart;

Fig. 6 is a perspective, with' parts broken away, showing a longitudinal and transverse partition interlapped but with the coupling head removed;

Fig. '7 is a plan view showing the same box or drawer as illustrated in Fig. 1, but with only the longitudinal partition plates applied therein;

Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective, with parts broken away, showing one of the spacing plates and one of the Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 1937, Serial N0. 130,701

longitudinal partitions of the structure illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8, the said elements being drawn apart.

Referring rst to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, the numeral I0 indicates the shell or body of a rectangular sheet metal box which, being illustrated as a drawer, is provided on its front plate with a handle or pull II. The front plate of this box, at its upper edge, is formed with an inwardly and down wardly turned fold I2, while the rear end plate of the box is shown as extended slightly upward of the sides of the box and is formed smooth or without fold. This structure, however, is not an important feature. The sides of the box, attheir upper edges, are formed with inturned folds that form longitudinal ribs I3.

In the structure now considered, the box is provided with but one longitudinal partition plate I4 and with a plurality of transverse partition plates I5 but, as before stated, the number of these partitions may vary. The partitionl plates I4 and I5 are preferably of thesame or approximately the same height and the transverse partition plates are of such height that their ends will go under the side ribs I3. The transverse partition plates I5 are formed with slits I6 that are wide enough to embrace the longitudinal partition VI4 and extend-,upward from their lower edges. In their upper edges the partition plates I4 and I5, respectively, are formed with wide notches Il and I8. The partition plates I4 are provided withslits I9 that extend downward from the bottoms of the notches I'I and are wide enough to embrace the transverse partitions I5.,y The slits I6 and I9 are of such depth or vertical extent that when the longitudinal and transverse partitions are assembled with the slits I9 embracing the partitions I5, and the slits I6 embracing the partitions I4, the bottoms of the intersecting partitions will be at the same level and the upper edges of said partitions will be at the common level.

To hold the intersected partitions at rectangular arrangement, a coupling head of novel construction is provided. The preferred form of this coupling head is shown in detail in the perspective View, Fig. 5. In its preferred form this coupling head involves four right-angle pieces 2B riveted or otherwise rigidly connected at their upper ends, as shown at 2|, but with their depending body portions spaced to form channels 22 that intersect at right-angles. The connected portions 2| are of no greater and preferably of little less vertical extent than the depth of the notches I'I and I8. When the partition plates I4 and I5 are connected, as shown in Fig. 6, the coupling head may be slid over the joint between the plates and into close tting contact with the two plates, thereby very positively holding the intersecting partition plates in rectangular arrangement. The connected portion 2| of the head, in this preferred arrangement, is made up of a cross-formed structure that is not much thicker than the connected plates so that the compartments formed by the partitions are left in true rectangular arrangement. However, as far as the broad idea is concerned, the coupling head may vary in form and might be a little more bulky or solid structure but much less desirable in the structure illustrated.

When the partitions are applied in the box, as shown in Figs. l and 2, the ends of the transverse partitions I5 will go under the side flanges I3 and will be held down by the said flanges with the lower edges of the partition plates on the bottom of the box; and inasmuch as the transverse partition plates are interlocked with the longitudinal partition by aldownward movement, it follows that the longitudinal partition plate will also be locked down with its lower edge on the bottom of the box.

In assembling the partitions within the box, the longitudinal partition will preferably first be positioned and then the transverse partitions, while turned at an oblique angle to the partition plate, will be forced downward thereon and then turned at a right-angle thereto with its ends under the anges I3. When the transverse partition plates have thus been applied at rightagles to the longitudinal partition, the coupling heads will be forced downward and applied as described.

The box illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 is the same box as illustrated in Figs. l and 2 and is identically the same structure, but in this arrangement several longitudinal partitions but no transverse partitions are shown. The longitudinal partition plates 23, at their ends, are seated in transverse spacing plates 24 that fit against the inner faces of the front and rear plates of the box. These spacing plates 24 are folded or creased to form inwardly projecting ribs 25 and intervening channels 2S into the latter of which the ends of the partition plates 23 are inserted and by which the said partition plates are held properly spaced. The rear spacing plate 2li is shown in full in Fig. '7, but the front spacing plate 24, except at its ribs 25, is hidden under the inturned upper edges I2 of the front plate of the box. In respect to the structure illustrated in Figs.

1 and 2, it may be stated that where a plurality of quite closely spaced transverse partitions are employed, spacing plates for the ends of the longitudinal partition are not necessary. Where, for example, a single centrally located transverse partition plate was applied to a single longitudinal partition, then it will be desirable that spacing plates, such as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, be employed to space and hold the ends of the longitudinal partition plate.

The utility of a device such as illustrated is thought to be obvious. It provides means for quickly rearranging partitions and the compartvments of a drawer or box-like structure and.

affords a strong and durable arrangement that may be made at small cost and quickly assembled. While the possible uses of a box-like structure or drawer with partitions such as illustrated or disclosed are too numerous to be enumerated, it may be stated that metallic boxes of this kind have been primarily designed for use by mechanics for containing various different kinds of tools, various different kinds of equipment, and such small things as are used by mechanics or others. It will also be understood that while several embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the drawings, that the same is capable of modication within the scope of the invention herein disclosed and claimed.

What I claim is:

l. The combination with a box, of transversely intersecting partition plates therefore having mutually engaging slits at the place of intersection, and a forked coupling head having slits embracing the intersecting partition plates and having between the slits portions that engage in the angles formed by the intersecting partition plates and holding said partition plates in deiinite angular relation, said coupling head being made up of four angle pieces coupled together at their upper ends and applied with the depending anguiar portions closely following the walls of the said intersecting partition plates.

2. The combination with a rectangular box, of transversely intersecting partition plates therefore having mutually engaging slits at the place of intersection, and a. forked coupling head having slits embracing the intersecting partition plates and having between the slits portions that engage in the angles formed by the intersecting partition plates and holding said partition plates in denite angular relation, said intersecting partition plates having relatively wide notches above their slits and said coupling head having a united upper end portion engaged in the said notches,

,said coupling head being made up of four angle AXEL G. ANDERSON. 

